AbstractIn this work, a process for making high‐modulus (8GPa) laminates of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been developed. Oriented films of the polymer were produced by a technique utilizing a very high extension rate, and these films were crossplied and consolidated to form the product laminates. The procedures for drawing the original film lamina and consolidating the laminates were optimized with respect to the material properties. Further, the possibility of chemical healing–bonding of the lamina together by chemical reaction, not diffusion–was investigated for these materials. It was found that laminates could be formed with both high moduli and strong interply bonding and that the moduli actually increase due to crystallization during pressing. Longrange diffusion during bond formation was ruled out, since crosslinked polyesters were found to bond as readily as uncrosslinked. Chemical reactions between contacted surfaces appear to be a likely mechanism of bo